Filling head having air locked chamber for filling liquids into containers



LAN R LOCKED, CHAMBER LIQUIDS INT 0 CONTAINERS March 6, 1951 M. w. LOVEFILLING HEAD HAVING AI FOR FILLING 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Filed Nov. 30, 1948 INVENTOR.

Armed/5x5 March 6, 195% v v M. w. LOVELAND 2,543,738

FILLING HEAD HAVING AIR LOCKED CHAMBER-= i FOR FILLING LIQUIDS INTOCONTAINERS;

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fi led Nov. 30, 1948 ASA if 46 JNVENTOR.

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Patented Mar. 6, 1951 FILLING HEADIIAVING AIR LOCKED CHAM BER FORFILLING LIQUIDS INTO CON- TAINERS .Malcolm W. Loveland, Orinda, Calif.,assignor to American Can Company, New-York, N. Y., a corporation of NewJersey Application ovember 30, 1948, Serial 0. 62,654

'5 claims, (01. gee-41s) The present inventionrelates to an apparatusfor filling liquids intocans or containersand has particular referenceto a filling head for accurately controlling the height ofsfillwithinthe cans regardless of variations in the voids between and in any solidswhich may be in the cans priorlto filling with the liquid.

It has been found that in packing some kinds I of products, such as foodproductswhich require syruping or the like. by present methodstofzpacluing, there sometimes is a wide variation inzthe final vacuum retained inthe cans after sealing. In these methods of packing, the air within thecan and within theproductif possible is displaced before the syrup orother liquid is filled into the can. I 7

With this air displacement system, head spaces produced within the'cansare constant only when the volume of the voids between the particles ofthe product is constant. Head spaces in the filled cans vary directly asthe variation in the volume of the voids inthe can, thus causing thehead spaces to vary outside the desired minimum and maximum range. It isthis head space variation that causes the wide variation in final canvacuums as mentioned above.

The instant invention contemplates overcoming this difliculty by theprovision of a displacement type filling head having restricted passageways forming capillary tubes which permit'of filling a can and a portionof the head with liquid to insure accuracy of fill and which retainsthat volume of liquid which remans in the head to revent its .return tothe can when the latter is removed from the head.

An object of the invention is the provision in an apparatus for fillingliquidsintocans or containers, of a displacement type filling headwherein the head spaces produced in the-cans may be maintained at apredetermined constant, regardless of variations in the voids, betweenthe parti-,- cles of any solid product which may be in the cans prior tofilling with liquid.

Another object is the provision of sucha filling head wherein any liquidthat remains in the head as an incident to accurately filling a can isair locked and is thus prevented fromfiowing back into the canor fromdripping when the filled can is removed from the head for subsequentoperations. I

Another object is the provision of such a filling head which is easilycleaned while retaining the features of the overflow liquid air look, sothat the head may be maintained free of any contamination that wouldaffect the liquid filled into Numerous other objects and advantages ofthe inventionwill be apparent asit is better understood from thefollowing description, which, taken in connection with the accompanyingdraw ings, disclosesa preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings: 7

Figure 1 .is a sectional view of a portion of an apparatus including afilling head embodying the instant invention, the view showing a can inplace for filling, with parts of the apparatus and the can broken away;

Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 aresectional views taken substantially along therespective lines 22, 3-3, 44, 55 in Fig. 1; H V

Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are sectional views similar to Fig. 2 and showingdifferent positions of a ro tatable, valve member of the filling head;

Figs. 10, 11, 12 and Bare schematic transverse sectional views of thelower portion of the filling head and the upper portion of the can beingfilled, the views being taken substantially along the lines Ifll0,ll-ll, .l2-.-I Z, I3-I3 in Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 respectively, with partsbroken away; and

Fig. 14 is an enlarged tion of the filling head.

As a preferredand exemplary embodiment of the invention the drawingsillustrate a solid displacement type filling head used for vacuumizing acan A (Fig. 1) and then filling it with a liquid received from areservoir or tank B. The filling head may form a part of a moreelaborate machine such as the machine disclosed in United States Patent2,124,581 issued July 26, 1938 to R, Luthi on Can Filling Machine. Asshown in Fig. 1 of the drawings the cans A to be operated uponpreferably contain solid matter such as fruits or vegetables and are toreceive a liquid such as syrup or brine which is to fill the spaces inthe cans to a predetermined level so as to provide for a definite headspace, although the invention'is equally well adaptedto filling liquidsinto cans without solid matter in them.

The filling head comprises a fiat horizontally disposed body memberzl(Figs. 1, 2 and 3) which at one end is formed with a vertical support'pad 22 adjustably secured to and carried on the outside wall of thetank B near its bottom. The support pad '22 may be clamped to'the tankin any suitable manner. The body member Ziis formed with a plurality ofports arranged as shown in Fig. 3. These ports include a blow out port24, a vent-vacuum port 25, a displacement port 26, and a filling port 21which extend entirely through the body member. I The .body member 2! isalso formed with a sectional detail of a porvacuum port 28 and a liquidport 29 which are formed in the upper face of the member. The vacuumport 28 communicates with a vacuum bore 3| formed in the body member andconnecting with an auxiliary vacuum bore 32 formed in the bottom of theliquid tank B. The inner end of the auxiliary vacuum bore 32communicates with a vacuum chamber 33 formed in the bottom of the liquidtank B. This chamber is maintained in a vacuumized condition in anysuitable manner, such for example, as that shown in the above mentionedLuthi patent.

In a similar manner, the liquid port 29 communicates with a liquid bore35 (see Figs. '2, 12 and 13) formed in the body member 2| and connectingwith an auxiliary liquid bore 36 (Fi 1) formed in the bottom of theliquid tank B. The inner end of this auxiliary liquid bore 36communicates with the interior of the liquid tank.

The lower face of the body member 2| carries a depending resilientannular sealing ring 38 preferably made of rubber. This sealing ringpreferably is formed with a beveled lower edge which is engaged by theflange surrounding the upper open end of a can A when the latter israised into filling position against the head, on a can support unit 39.The support unit may be operated in any suitable manner, such as thatdisclosed in the Luthi patent above mentioned. The resiliency of thering co-operates with the support unit in effecting a tight seal betweenthe head and the open end of the can for efiicient vacuumizing andfilling of the can.

The sealing ring 38 preferably is secured to the outer peripheral faceof a depending annular flange 4| of a stationary holding plate 42 whichis secured to the lower face of the body member 2|. This holding plate42 is formed with a plurality of ports arranged as shown in Fig. 4 andwhich include a blow out port 44, a vent-vacuum port 45, a vent tubeport 46, and a filling port 41. These ports extend entirely through theplate, some at an angle (see Fig. 1), and register or align respectivelywith the blow out port 24, the

vent-vacuum port 25, the vent tube port 26, and

the filling port 21 formed in the body member 2 Below the holding plate42, the body member 2| carries a displacement disc 5| (Figs. 1 and 5)which extends down into the top open end of a can A clamped against thesealing ring 38 and displaces a predetermined volume of liquid duringthe filling operation to control the head space desired in the can afterfilling. This displacement disc also serves as a topper and in thiscapacity pushes any solid matter down below the upper edge of the can asthe latter is lifted into filling position. A screw 52 extends upthrough the middle of the disc 5| and the holding plate 42 and isthreadedly engaged in the body member 2| and thus secures these parts tothe body member and holds them stationary.

The displacement disc 5| is an important element in the instantinvention. It is formed with an annular vertically projecting ring orbead 53 which surrounds the holding screw 52 in spaced relation theretoand which seats against a head space adjusting washer 54 interposedbetween the bead 53 and the holding plate 42. The bead 53 and the washer54 set off or define a recess 55 (Fig. 1) in the top of the displacementdisc and surrounding the holding screw 52. This recess 55 communicateswith the vent-vacuum port 45 and the vent tube port 46 in the holdingplate 42 and by way of a plurality of apertures 56 formed in thedisplacement disc and arranged in a circle 4 around the screw 52,communicates with the in-' terior of the can A clamped against the head.All other ports in the holding plate 42 are maintained out ofcommunication with the recess 55. This is for the purpose of vacuumizingthe can as will be hereinafter explained.

The bead 53 of the displacement disc 5| and its washer 54 also separatethe displacement disc vertically from the holding plate and thereby formbetween the disc and the plate an annular liquid chamber 58 (Fig. 1)which surrounds the recess 55. This chamber communicates only with theatmosphere or blow out port 44 and the filling port 41 in the holdingplate 42 and is entirely out of communication with all the other portsin the plate. This is for the purpose of filling the liquid into the canthrough the liquid chamher.

For this same purpose, the diameter of the displacement disc is slightlysmaller than the inside diameter of the can to be filled so that afilling space exists between the periphery of the disc and the wall ofthe can as best shown in Fig. 1. This outer periphery of the disc isformed with an annular step or shoulder 6| (see Fig. 14) which providesadjacent the lower end of the plate flange 4|, a restricted annular andvertical outlet passageway 62 having a capillary action on the liquidpassing between the disc and the inner face of the flange 4|. The step6| also provides a continuing larger free flowing passageway 63 betweenthe disc and the lower face or edge of the flange 4|. These passagewaysare for the purpose of admitting liquid into the can and to preventdripping when the liquid is out off as will be hereinafter explained.

Control of the vacuumizing and filling of the can through the ports andpassageways above mentioned is effected by a rotatable valve 65 (Figs. 1and 2) which rests on the upper face of the body member 2 The bodymember contacting face of the valve 65 is formed with an elongatedcurved filling channel 66, a short straight vacuumizing channel 61, anatmosphere port 68, and a vent tube port 69 arranged as shown in Fig. 2.The vacuumizing channel 61 is in continuous communication with thevacuum port 28 in the body member 2|. The atmosphere port 68 extendsthrough the valve as shown in Fig. 1 and its outer end is constantlyopen to the outside atmosphere. The vent tube port 69 extends throughthe valve and leads to and is in communication with the lower end of avertically disposed vent tube H which is secured to the valve in astuffing box 12 formed therein. This vent tube forms an axis for thevalve. At its upper end the tube is open to the outside atmosphere byway of a vent port 13.

Rotation of the valve 65 is effected through a sleeve 15 (Fig. 1) whichsurrounds the vent tube 1| and which is carried in a bearing bracket 16bolted to the outside of the liquid tank B in a position above the bodymember support pad 22. An adjusting screw 11 threadedly carried in thebearing bracket 16 and connecting with the pad 22 is utilized invertically adjusting the body member 2| as hereinbefore mentioned.

The lower end of the sleeve 75 is connected to the valve 65 preferablywith a conventional tongue and groove connection 18 (Fig. 1) tofacilitate removal of the valve for cleaning. The upper end of thesleeve carries a star wheel 19 which is keyed'to the sleeve and which isrotated intermittently through partial or step-by-step rotations asdisclosed in the above mentioned Luthi patent, to rotate the valve 65through a cycle of predetermined positions for aligning the ports andchannels of the valve with those of the body member to effect thevacuumizing and the filling of the can as will now be explained.

The zero or initial position of the valve 55 in respect to the bodymember 2| is that shown in Fig. 1 where all of the ports in the bodymember 2| are closed by the valve except the atmosphere port25 which isin register with the atmosphere port 68 in the valve. Alignment of thetwo ports permits of free passage of air through the apertures 55 andrecess 55 in the displacement disc 5|, atmosphere port 45 in the holdingplate 42, atmosphere port 25 in the body member 2| and the atmosphereport 68 in the valve, when the can is initially clamped againstthe'filling head. This free passageway for the air prevents compressionof the air in the can during the clamping operation.

With the can in fully clamped position against the head, it is ready forvacuumizing. For this vacuumizing step, the valve 65 is partiallyrotated into the position shown in Figs. '7 and 11. In this position ofthe valve the atmosphere port 58 in the valve is out of register withthe ventvacuum port 25 and the interior of the can A is thus closed orsealed off from the outside atmosphere. In this same position of thevalve,

its vacuum channel 5'! is in communication with the vent-vacuum port 25and the vacuum port 28 in the body member 2|. Thus communication isestablished between the interior of the can A and the vacuum chamber 33in the bottom of the tank B, by Way of the apertures 56 and recess 55,in the displacement disc 5|, the vent-vacuum port 45 in the holdingplate 42, the vent-vacuum port 25 in the body member 2|, the vacuumchannel 61 in the valve 65, the vacuum port 28 and vacuum bore 3i in thebody member 2|, and the auxiliary vacuum bore 32 which leads to thevacuum chamber 33. Through these ports, channels, and bores, theinterior of the can A is vacuumized to a predetermined degree.

As soon as the can A has been vacuumized the valve 55 is again partiallyrotated through its second or liquid filling step of rotation into theposition shown in Figs. 8 and 12. In this position of the valve itsvacuum channel 61 is out of register with the vent-vacuum port and hencethe vacuum from the vacuum chamber 33 is cut off from the interior'ofthe can. However, in this position of the valve its'filling channel 66is' in register with the filling port 2'! and the liquid port 29 in thebody member 2|. Hence liquid from the tank B flows into the can Athrough the auxiliary liquid bore 36 in the tank, the liquid bore andthe liquid port 29 in the body member 2|, the filling channel 66 in thevalve 55, the filling port 21 in the body member 2|, the filling port 41in the holding plate 42, and the liquid chamber 58 adjacent thedisplacement disc 5|. The pressure differential between the liquid inthe tank B and the vacuum in the container forces the liquid through therestricted passageway 62 and out through the passageway 53 against theadjacent inside surface of the side wall of the can along which it flowgently to the bottom of the can. As this liquid fills the can, thevacuumbecomes dissipated and any air that remains in the can due to theimperfect vacuum initially created therein, collects at the top of theliquid below the displacement disc 5|.

In order to remove this remaining air, the valve 65-is again indexed orpartially rotated through its third step of rotation to a level ofiposition shown in Figs. 9 and 13. In this positionof the valve itsfilling channel 56 remains in communication with the filling port 21 andthe liquid port 23 in the body member 2|, the filling channel 55 beingof suflicient length to maintain this communication during the thirdstep of rotation of the valve so as to continue the liquid fillingoperation without interruption. The turning of the valve into this thirdposition does bring its vent tube port 59 into register with the venttube port 25 in the body member 2|.

1 Hence the rising liquid being filled into the can forces the airremaining in the can upwardly through the apertures 55 and recess 55 inthe displacement disc 5|, through the vent tube port 46 in the holdingplate 42, the vent tube port' 25 in the body member 2|, and the venttube port 59 in the valve 65 into the vent tube II. The liquid riseswith the air into all of these ports and into the vent tube 1| until itreaches the level of the liquid in the tank B. The air escapes from theport 13 in the upper end of the tube. In this manner all of the air thatwas originally in the canis completely expelled and its place is takenby the liquid, the liquid filling the'connected ports up into the venttube H.

With the can A and thefilling head filled with the liquid, the valve 65is again indexed or partiallyrotated through a fourth step which returnsit to its zero or starting position (Fig. 1) thus having been rotatedthrough one complete cycle of rotation. This fourth step' of rotation ofthe valve shifts its filling channel 55 out of register with the fillingport 27 and liquid port 29 in' the body member 2| and thereby cuts oiTthe supply "of liquid fromthe' tank B. It also shifts the vent tube port59 in the valve 65 out of register with the displacement port 26 in thebody memberZl. This looks the liquid in the can and in thehead below thevalve 65.

This same rota'tion ofthe valve 65 brings its atmosphere port 68 intoregister with the ventvacuum port 25 in the body member 2| as shownih'Fig. 1; Thus atmospheric pressure is exerted on the liquid in the canthrough the vent-vacuum ports '25, 45 in the respective body member 2|and the holding plate 42, and in the recess 55 and the apertures 58 inthe displacement disc 5| so that the can may be lowered from the headwithout suction.

-As the can is lowered from the head, by the lowering of the support pad39 as disclosed in the above mentioned Luthi patent, air underatmospherid-pressure entering by way of the atmosphere port 68 in thevalve 55 enters the can below the displacement disc 5| and exerts itsforce against the passageways 62, 53 between the edge ofthe displacementpad and the adjacent'flan'ge 4| of the holding plate 432 Radial grooves82 form-ed in the bottom of the dis placement disc 5| and connectingwith the apertures 56 and annular grooves 83 connecting with the radialgrooves 82asshown in Fig. 5 facilitate this movement of the air.

Thus-the liquid within the liquid chamber 58 is air locked within thechamber and this permits the-can to leave the filling head with a cleansweep without any liquiddripping from the head into the can, thecapillary action of the restricted passageway 62 holding the liquid inthe chamber.

The displacement disc having displaced a predetermined volume of liquidduring the filling ope'ra'tion,insures a predetermined accurate headspace 'in' the can when the latter-is fully removed from the head.

The residual liquid in the liquid chamber 58 after such a can fillingoperation is partially removed during the vacuumizing of the next cantobe filled so as to clear the vent tube for use during this subsequentfilling operation. This is effected during the first step of rotation ofthe valve 65, as the valve rotates from the zero or starting position asshown in Fig. 1, into the can vacuumizing position shown in Figs. '7 and11. During this first step of rotation and just as the vacuumizingchannel 61 in the valve starts to come into register with thevent-vacuum port 25 in the body member 2! as shown in Figs. 6 and 10,the vent tube port 69 in the valve momentarily comes into register withthe blow out port 24 in the body member. This passing registry of theseports is of sufiicient duration to effect a partial vacuumization of thecan to the extent that the atmospheric pressure on the liquid in thevent tube H forces the liquid in the tube down through the vent tubeport 69 in the valve, and through the blow out port 24 in the bodymember 2|, into the liquid chamber 53 and further forces this liquid andpart of the liquid in the chamber out through the chamber passageways6l, 62 into the can. The vent tube H, the vent tube port 69, the blowout port 24, and a portion of the liquid chamber 58 are thus cleared ofall liquid in readiness vfor a repeat filling operation on the can nowbeing vacuumized. When the valve 65 comes to rest at the end of itsfirst step of rotation as shown in Figs. '7 and 11, full vacuumizationof the can takes place as hereinbefore described, the vent tube port 69being out of register with the blow out port 24 at this time.

With such a filling head construction, all of the ports, channels,recesses, apertures, chambers, and passageways of the head are readilyaccessible for cleaning in the usual manner of operating the head idlywhile passing steamand water or other cleaning fluid through it. Thusthis improved head is easily maintained. Since during the fillingoperation of a can, any liquid that rises in the head above thedisplacement disc is air trapped or locked in the liquid chamber 58 byreason of the capillary action of the restricted passageway 62, there isno liquid to'be returned .to the can during its removal from the head.Hence the displacement disc 5| is the sole regulator of the head spacein the can and insures accuracy in the establishment of this head spaceirrespective of variationsin the voids between and in any solids whichmay be in the cans prior to filling the cans with the liquid.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a filling head for filling'liquids into'containers, thecombination of sealing means for sealingoif'an open-end of a containerto be filled, means operating through said head for partiallyvacuumizing the interior of said sealed off container, a liquid chamberin said head havinga restricted passageway leading into said vacuumizedcontainer, means for passing a volume of liquidgreater than the capacityofsaidcontainer into :said liquid chamber to fill the container throughsaid restricted passageway, means in saidhead for venting'residual airdisplaced from said partially vacuumized container by said enteringliquid and for receiving the surplus liquid beyond the capacity of saidcontainer from said liquid chamber, and means in said head for admittingair to the top of the container after it is filled with liquid tofacilitate removal of the container from said sealing means and to lockthe surplus liquid in said liquid chamber against return to said filledcontainer .to maintain a predetermined level of the liquid in thecontainer.

2. In a filling head for filling liquids into containers, thecombination of sealing means for sealing off an open end of a containerto be filled, means operating through said head for partiallyvacuumizing the interior of said sealed off .container, a liquid chamberin said head having a restricted passageway to said vacuumizedcontainer, means for passing a volume of liquid greater than thecapacity of said container into said liquid chamber to fill thecontainer through said restricted passageway, means in said head forventing residual air displaced from said partially 'vacuumized containerby said entering liquid and for receiving the surplus liquid beyond thecapacity of said container from said liquid chamber, means in said headfor admitting air to the top of the container and adjacent the outletpassageway of said liquid chamber after the filling of the container tofacilitate removal of the container from said sealing means and to lockthe surplus liquid in said liquid chamber against return to said filledcontainer to maintain a predetermined level of the liquid in thecontainer, and means in said head communicable with said liquid chamberduring vacuumization of a subsequent container for blowing out thesurplus liquid in said liquid chamber to recondition said chamber for arepeat operation.

3. In a filling head for filling liquids into containers, thecombination of sealing means for sealing off an open end of a containerto be filled, means operating through said head for partiallyvacuumizing the interior of said sealed oil container, adisplacement'element depending from said head and extending into acontainer sealed against said sealing means, a liquid chamber in saidhead adjacent said displacement element said chamber having a restrictedpassageway, to said vacuumized container formed by the close'proximityof a wall of said displacement element with a wall of said head, saiddisplacement element also having a recess connecting with an apertureforming communication with the interior of a sealed ofi container, meansfor passing a volume of liquid greater than the capacity of saidcontainer into said liquid chamber to fill the container through therestricted passageway recess and aperture of the chamber, means in saidhead for venting residual air displaced from said partially .vacuumizedcontainer by said entering liquid and for receiving the surplus liquidbeyond the capacity of said container from said liquid chamber, andmeans in said head for admitting airto the top of the container belowsaiddisplacement recessand its connecting aperture and adjacent theoutlet passageway of said liquid chamber after the filling of thecontainer to facilitate removal of the container from said sealing meansand to lock the surplus liquid in said liquid chamber against return tosaid filledcontainen-removal of said displacement ele- 9 mentmaintaining a predetermined level of the liquid in the container.

4. In a filling head for filling liquids into containers, thecombination of a body member having a plurality of ports therein, aholding plate secured to said body member and having a plurality ofports therein connecting with the ports in said body member, saidholding plate having a depending flange thereon, a resilient sealingmember adjacent said flange for sealing oil a container to be filledwith liquid, a displacement disc disposed adjacent said holding plateand setting oiT between said disc and said plate a liquid chamber havinga restricted outlet passageway, said displacement disc also setting ofiadjacent said plate a recess separated from said chamber andcommunicating with a plurality of displacement apertures extendingthrough said disc, and a rotatable valve unit seated on said body memberand having channels and ports communicable with the ports in said bodymember,

said valve in one position establishing communication through saiddisplacement apertures between the interior of the sealed off containerand a source of vacuum for partially vacuumizing said container, in asecond position establishing communication between said liquid chamberand a source of liquid for passing a volume of liquid greater than thecapacity of said container into the chamber to fill the containerthrough said outlet passageway, in a third position establishing a ventopening to the atmosphere through said displacement apertures forreceiving residual air displaced from said container by the enteringliquid and for receiving surplus liquid, and in a fourth positionestablishing communication between the container and the outsideatmosphere for admitting air into the container and adjacent the outletpassageway of said liquid chamber to facilitate removal of the containerfrom the seal- 10 ing member and to lock the surplus liquid in saidliquid chamber against return to said filled container to maintain apredetermined head space produced in said container by said displacementdisc.

5. In a filling head for filling liquids into containers, thecombination of a reservoir for holding a filling liquid, a filling headsecured to said reservoir, a vent tube in said filling head andextending up to a level above the liquid in said reservoir, sealingmeans in said head for sealing off an open end of a container to befilled, means operating through said head for partially vacuumizing 'theinterior of said sealed off container, at liquid chamber in said headhaving communication with said vacuumized container, means for passing avolume of liquid into said liquid chamber sufiicient to fill saidcontainer and said liquid chamber and to extend up into said vent tubeto the level of liquid in said reservoir, means in said head for ventingresidual air displaced from said container from said liquid chamber andfrom said vent tube by said entering liquid, means in said head foradmitting air to the top of the container after it is filled with liquidto facilitate removal of the container from said sealing means, andmeans for sealing off said liquid chamber to airlock the surplus liquidin the chamber and in the vent tube to prevent its return to said filledcontainer and to maintain a predetermined level of the liquid in thecontainer.

MALCOLM W. LOVELAND.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Hoar Feb. 9, 1937Number

